2006 gardening calendar(2)susanschadt.com/documents/2006calendar2.pdf2006 gardening calendar(2) ... August ‘06

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This wall calendar brings you• 12 up-close photos of plants• Daily tips with a regional slant (all new)• 9 1/2” x 12 1/2”, 28-page format• Indepth plant information• Space for taking notes• U.S. holidays • 2006 and 2007 calendar grids• Moon phases

Find answers to these and other questions• How do I get larger dahlias?• What causes blossom end rot on tomatoes?• Are orange daylilies native plants?• Where can I get my soil tested?• Why are ants on my peonies?• When can I start seedlings indoors?• How many deer are in Connecticut?• What is Santolina chamaecyparissus?

Nature’s Close-ups, produced by Communications and Information Technology, a part of the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, costs $8.95 plus postage.

1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4035Storrs, CT 06269-4035860-486-3336 | 860-486-0100 (fax)

Communications & Information Technology

Use pesticides only when necessary.

New Moon

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Detail of August 23rd showing gardening tip and moon phase.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Nature’s Close-ups2006 Gardening Calendar

Nature’s Close-ups

Although the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources winter landscape seems peacefully still, much plant research is ongoing inside the College’s facilities. Eventually, many of these projects will benefit homeowners and gardeners, their environment and the quality of life.

For example, the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Nutrient Management Programs seek ways to reduce ground and surface water contamination by cutting pesticide use and nutrient inputs. Municipal land use planning guidelines and a water quality study of residential subdivision development runoff occupy the Landscape Architecture Program staff.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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January ‘06January ‘06New Year’s Day

Keep poinsettias out of drafts.

First Quarter

New Year’s Day Observed

Put the tree outside; redecorate it with bread & suet.

Rub candle wax on shovels; snow slips off.

Request seed catalogs. Salt-tolerant species: juniper, blue spruce, Norway maple

Use a soft, damp cloth to dust houseplant leaves.

Try holding amaryllis for next winter.

Coffee grounds are a source of nitrogen.

Gently brush heavy snow from shrubs.

Visit a greenhouse for a hint of spring.

Road salt damage mimics drought injury.

Notice gaps in the winter landscape design.

Stamping snow around trees discourages rodents.

If ice freezes on evergreens, let it melt naturally.

Rhododendron leaves curl in cold weather.

Martin Luther King Day

Car floor mats give traction to spinning tires.

‘First Kiss Blueberry’ is the 1st violet-blue vinca.

Think spring! Potassium improves winter hardiness.

Normal thaw dates: Jan. 20-25.

Flower buds can expand after 2+ weeks of mild weather.

Consider a vegetable garden this year.

Calcium chloride deicer is safer for plants.

Sodium chloride deicer is less safe.

Check stored bulbs for rotting.

Buy publications at www.store.uconn.edu.

Investigate adding a water feature this year.

Flowering houseplants need sun.

1 cup of snap peas= 45 calories.

Conference info: [email protected].

Save March 8 & 9 for UConn Plant Conferences.

DECEMBER 2005 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

February ‘06February ‘06Peonies, here the fragrant Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’, signal spring’s arrival for many and

bloom in May and June. Of over 20 species, three are most familiar in the United States. The old-fashioned hybrids are part of lactiflora. Suffruticosa, a shrub, is the tree peony and often grafted into lactiflora. Difficult to grow and not widely available is tenuifolia, which has fernlike foliage and deep red flowers.

These plants survive for many years in the garden; the cut flowers last up to a week. Peonies form single, semi-double, double, Japanese or anemone flowers.

Ants are attracted to a sweet secretion on the peony flower buds. This neither harms nor helps the peonies. After cutting peonies, turn the flowers upside down and shake them to rid the bouquets of ants.


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First Quarter

Sweep light snow instead of shoveling.

Sketch plans for new plantings.

Mealybugs have white, cottony egg sacs.

Add color indoors with a flowering houseplant.

Peat moss will lower the soil pH.

Deer fence should be at least 8’ high.

Keep leaves under shrubs for root insulation.

Try planting some new vegetables every year.

When new growth begins, fertilize houseplants.

Fertilize houseplants every 6-8 weeks.

Buy a color wheel for garden planning.

Americans prefer their roses to be red.

Red roses symbolize love. Valentine’s Day

Buy flowers for your main squeeze.

Finish garden mail orders. Sharpen & clean garden tools.

Compost piles recycle organic materials.

Don’t add pet waste to the compost pile.

Habanero peppers have 300,000+ Scoville units.

President’s Day

Spinach overwinters easily.

Check out library books about landscape design.

Rabbits prefer pine tree bark to that of firs & spruces.

Visit us at the CT Flower & Garden Show.

Test an established lawn’s soil every 3 years.

Test the soil before starting a new planting.

Garden Show, Hartford Expo Center, ends today.

Force branches of forsythia/pussy willow.

Apple & pear trees may be pruned soon.

JANUARY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

With their variety of form and size, ornamental grasses add color, texture and drama to the home landscape. These hardy, low maintenance grasses work as screens or as accent plants in perennial gardens and containers.

Ornamental grasses provide four seasons of interest in the landscape. Their showy flower heads make dried arrangements more interesting. In addition, they appeal to the senses as they move in the wind and create a rustling sound.

Some grasses send out side shoots and may spread rapidly. Others grow as clumps that increase more slowly. Experts say that clump forming ornamental grasses may be the best choice in many landscape situations. Some clumping grasses are: Deschampsia (hair grass), Helictotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass), Miscanthus, Molinia caerulea (moor grass) and Pennisetum (fountain grass).

March ‘06March ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Start seeds 8-10 weeks before transplanting.

Always use fresh seed. Use clean containers & seed starting mix.

Indoors, add artificial light to sunlight for seeds.

Seed germination happens fastest at 65-75 degrees.

Don’t forget to water seedlings.

Crocuses grow best in a pH of 6.0-7.5..

Plant Conference, UConn Rome Ballroom

Plant Conference, UConn Rome Ballroom

Phosphorus encourages root growth, flowering & fruiting.

Stay out of soggy garden plots.

Average CT snowfall: 30”-50”.

Pot tender bulbs for earliest blooms.

Cannas, caladiums, dahlias are tender.

Take 4-6” cuttings of leggy geraniums.

Order new fruit trees now.

St. Patrick’s Day

Bare root plants are shipped in early spring.

1 tsp. soil can hold 10 million bacteria.

Hickory, oak & walnut trees give wildlife food & shelter.

Repot houseplants. Know the difference between warm & cool season vegetables.

Check landscape plants for winter damage.

Remove heavy, wet snow from plants.

Plant cole crops & hardy annual seeds indoors.

Plant tomato & eggplant seeds indoors.

Bayberry & ground juniper like dry, sunny areas.

Follow the weather, not the calendar, when planting.

Prune fruit trees & blueberry bushes.

FEBRUARY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

APRIL S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Foliage feeds the bulb for next year. Do not cut.

Yellow sticky cards attract greenhouse whiteflies.

Use rain barrels to collect water for gardens.

Vernal Equinox1:26 PM EST

White flowers and a stamen with periwinkle blue filament hairs make the Tradescantia x Andersoniana ‘Osprey’ perennial a stunning standout in the family Commelinaceae. It grows to about 20 inches high and blooms in early summer to early fall. This hybrid spiderwort tolerates sun to partial shade and prefers moist, fertile soils. The plants are about 15 inches wide and sometimes spread into other areas of the garden.

The only spiderworts native to Connecticut are Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) and Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis), according to the Connecticut Botanical Society. Like these, many species of Tradescantia have blue or violet flowers.

April ‘06April ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Use well-rotted manure, not fresh.

The CT State tree is white oak.

Take a garden walk to spot winterkill.

Average April precipitation: 4”

Soil testing info: www.ladybug.uconn.edu

Renovate lawns when the soil dries & is workable.

Remove winter mulches from perennial beds.

Remove winter mulches from roses.

Most cultivated plants need a soil pH of 6.0-7.0.

Grow what you know.

Annual weeds emerge in the spring.

Set cold tolerant pansies in window boxes.

Fertilize asparagus & rhubarb beds.

Fertilize all fruits except strawberries.

Fertilize trees & shrubs mid month.

Good Friday

Do not fertilize lawns until after April 15th.

Nonselective herbicides kill leaves on contact.

Easter

Soil = 1⁄2 solid material+ 1⁄2 space between the particles.

Scout for asparagus beetles & spruce gall adelgids.

Scout for Eastern tent caterpillar & European pine sawfly.

Dig up unwanted or misplaced plants.

Clean up dead branches & twigs in the yard.

Prune broken shrub branches.

Houseplants need micronutrients.

Cultural weed control = prevention + sanitation.

Apply preemergent herbicides before weeds emerge.

Control insects when the population is small.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Pole beans save space & yield more.

Connecticut Arbor Day

Plant a tree.

Plant trees at the same depth at which they grew.

MARCH S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MAY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

May ‘06Cultivars of bachelor’s button (Centaurea cyanus) are pink, blue, purple/wine or white. Its nectar and

numerous seeds act as food sources for insects and birds. Butterflies, ladybugs, green lacewings and other beneficial insects like the nectar. Sparrows, finches and

juncos eat the dried seeds. Gardeners might see songbirds foraging while the plant is still blooming because seed heads mature at different times. Ground-feeding birds get the seeds that drop from the flower...a sort of natural bird feeder.

Plant lots of bachelor’s button with other annuals in a sunny spot. If garden space is limited, use containers or window boxes. Do not use pesticides. Leave the spent flowers on the plant. Then, watch what this wildlife haven attracts.

May ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Divide summer & fall blooming perennials.

Black vine weevil is a rhododendron pest.

Set your lawn mower to cut at 2” high.

Edge, weed & mulch ornamental plantings.

Find cutworms in the soil below damaged plants.

Fertilize roses in mid-May, mid-June & mid-July.

Prune forsythias, weigelas & lilacs after flowers fade.

Plant gladioli corms at 2-week intervals now until late June.

Mother’s Day

Honor Mom by planting a flowering shrub.

Plant tender bulbs outside mid-May.

Fertilize perennials & groundcovers.

Transplant corn for early harvest.

Save the sunniest spot for peppers & eggplant.

Edge, weed & mulch perennial beds.

Divide asters, mums, sedum & boltonia.

Sunflowers grow quickly & fascinate children.

Maintain lawns at a pH of about 6.5.

Apply manure 60 days or more before vegetable harvest.

Follow all pesticide label instructions.

Use care with rotary tillers.

Children love to grow zinnias & cosmos.

Choose disease-resistant plant varieties.

Plant Brussels sprouts the 1st week of June.

Harden off transplants before planting.

Memorial Day

Look for early blight resistant tomatoes.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Set out tomatoes & annuals after the last frost.

Wait to set out tender plants like tomatoes.

Transplant broccoli, cauliflower & cabbage now to mid-May.

Weeding is easier when weeds are small.

Water small seeds (carrot & lettuce) until they germinate.

Start a gardening journal with a child.

JUNE S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

APRIL S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

June ‘06June ‘06These blueberries (genus: Vaccinium) will be ready for picking in July and August. Blueberries are fully

ripe three to six days after turning blue. At that time, the fruit attains its peak flavor, sugar content and size. Berries with some red are not ripe yet.

To pick, roll ripe fruit from the cluster into the palm of the hand with the thumb into a container. Avoid excessive handling, which may destroy the fruit’s attractive, whitish surface cover (bloom) and increase bruising and spoilage. Wash the berries just before using them. Although they are perishable, blueberries keep better than raspberries or strawberries.


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First Quarter

Move some houseplants outdoors.

Hydrangeas develop bluer flowers in acidic soil.

Watch for wooly adelgids on hemlocks.

Use annuals for instant color.

Check lilacs & dogwoods for borers.

Add compost for healthy vegetable plants.

Mulch azaleas & rhododendrons to protect surface roots.

Stake tomatoes to control disease.

Father’s Day

Stake tall perennials before they flop over.

Strawberries produce best in 6.2 pH, sandy loam soil.

Slow release fertilizers supply nutrients throughout the summer.

Do oak trees amid limed lawns have yellow leaves?

Then, rule out a high pH with a soil test.

Check evergreen euonymus plants for signs of scale.

Scale insect adults are white, rod like & immobile.

Scale larvae are bright orange & can move.

Cucumber beetle arrives in mid-June.

Preemergent herbicides control weeds for 2-3 months.

Sucker tomatoes for air flow through the canopy.

Exclude pests with floating row covers.

Get a child to eat vegetables by growing them with her.

Air currents & splashing water disseminate Botrytis.

Mulch to conserve moisture & reduce weeds.

Roses are the world’s most popular garden plant.

Dolomitic limestone supplies calcium & magnesium.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

‘Pardon Me’ Hemerocallis is susceptible to rust.

Leaf mulch should be 4” thick.

Leaf mulch is good for the entire vegetable garden.

Plant potatoes late to avoid potato beetle.

Potatoes can be planted until the 1st week of July.

JULY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MAY S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Summer Solstice7:26 AM EST

July ‘06July ‘06Dahlias are tender, which means they have fleshy storage structures (tuberous roots) that will be killed if

they are left outside in Connecticut winters. Dig them up after the first killing frost has damaged the foliage.Carefully loosen the soil on all sides of the plant before lifting the clump of roots and soil. Remember that

damaged areas are susceptible to diseases that cause rotting. Remove excess soil and inspect for pests. Then, cure for a few days in an area away from sun and wind. Label stored dahlias with the cultivar name and other identifying information.

Periodically check the stored dahlias. Cut away rotted areas until clean white, fleshy tissue appears.


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First Quarter

Potassium improves disease resistance.

Bats eat insects. Provide a bat house.

Regularly water houseplants, inside & outside.

Independence Day

European corn borer: most damaging Northeast pepper pest.

European corn borers lay eggs on peppers in July & August.

Look under leaves for insect eggs.

Divide iris after they bloom. Divide vigorous bearded iris after 3 years.

Slugs like cool, moist locations.

Orange daylilies are naturalized in CT but not native.

Mechanical control includes hand weeding.

The 3 numbers on a fertilizer bag: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.

Nonselective systemic herbicides translocate to the roots.

Potassium improves drought tolerance.

Gadzukes zucchini cuts into star shapes.

River rocks on top of container soil may deter chipmunks.

Do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass height when mowing.

Side-dress long season vegetables if plants look pale.

Powdery mildew looks like white powder on leaves.

Water before fertilizing houseplants.

Start a compost pile..Solarization will not kill weed seeds in CT.

Blueberries prefer a soil pH of about 5.0.

Stop fertilizing lawns during very hot weather.

Perennial weeds reproduce vegetatively or by seed.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Have a friend water your houseplants while you are away.

Hold your hoe with your thumbs pointing up.

Baby bats begin learning to fly at night.

JUNE S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

AUGUST S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Keep vegetables picked for continuous harvest.

Nitrogen stimulates green leafy growth.

Seaweed makes good vegetable compost.

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), which is medium to dark green, grows in many Connecticut lawns, athletic fields and public places. It can form a dense sod and prefers full sun and well-drained soils.

Kentucky bluegrass requires moderate to high fertilizer and water inputs to remain vigorous and green. In summers with high temperatures, drought conditions and no supplemental watering, this cool-season turfgrass may go semi-dormant and turn brown.

Most grass seed is sold in mixtures. “A mix of 30% to 45% fine leaf-fescue and 30 to 40% Kentucky bluegrass, with no greater than 20% perennial ryegrasses, provides an excellent lawn for most Connecticut conditions,” according to Karl Guillard, head of the turfgrass science program at UConn.

August ‘06August ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Apply systemic herbicides when weeds are actively growing.

Soil organic matter levels from 4-8% are ideal.

Bean blossoms will fall off if it is too hot.

Smokers can spread tobacco mosaic virus to nicotiana.

Use shears to snip herbs for cooking.

Bug zappers lure additional insects to the yard.

Control poison ivy with Glyphosate now to October.

Butterflies are more active in warm weather.

Remove small side buds to get larger dahlias.

Do not compost diseased vegetable plants.

Water about 1” per week during dry spells.

Make sure lawnmower blades are sharp & clean.

Tithonia rotundifolia is not a true sunflower.

Do not apply pesticides in windy conditions.

Consider a sundial, bench or statue for the garden.

Manures vary in their nutrient content.

A physical barrier, like landscape fabric, controls weeds.

The American robin has 2 broods a year.

Use pesticides only when necessary.

Borers (crown & cane) continue to feed on raspberries.

Scout for tomato hornworms.

Get coffee grounds for your garden from a café.

Stay hydrated while gardening.

Calculate the area to be covered before fertilizing or liming.

Cut some flowers for indoor bouquets.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

CT state insect: praying mantis.

Birds begin to migrate south.

Buy local produce.

JULYS M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Blossom end rot may be due to lack of calcium.

Summer annual weeds are common in cultivated areas.

Cucumbers & squash need to be pollinated.

First Quarter

Last Quarter

September ‘06September ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Pot up small herbs to bring indoors for winter harvest.

Bone meal contains phosphorus.

Labor Day

Plant spring-flowering bulbs.

Potatoes need calcium for abundant harvests.

Take cuttings of begonias & coleus to overwinter indoors.

Overseed, renovate or start lawns.

Apply ground limestone, as necessary.

Keep newly planted trees & shrubs well watered.

September ranks 2nd in clear days (8.6).

Take precautions against ticks when you are outside.

Check pets for ticks. Bring in tuberous begonias before frost strikes.

Return summering houseplants to the house.

Check houseplants for pests.

When frost threatens, cover plants with old sheets.

Early color changes of leaves may signal that your trees are in trouble.

Reseed bare areas in lawns now.

Peonies, lilies & evergreens can be transplanted.

Pot up some bulbs to force over the winter.

Check your local garden centers for fall sales.

Buy a lemon or mint scented geranium for inside.

Skateboards help move heavy potted plants.

Go to http://dep.state.ct.us/updates/foliage/index.htm

For early blooms, put bulbs on a house’s south side.

Locate your rake before the leaves fall.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Dry onions & garlic out of the sun.

Continue mowing until the grass stops growing.

Inspect the leaf blower.AUGUSTS M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

OCTOBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Fall is a great time to test your soil.

There is still time to plant trees, shrubs & perennials.

Autumnal Equinox11:03 PM EST

Zonal geraniums (genus: Pelargonium), sold as bedding plants, are the most common geraniums. Some of them have variegated leaf colors and fancy leaf shapes. Other types of geraniums are available, as well.

Ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes, ivy-leaved geraniums have a trailing habit. They prefer moderate temperatures and can withstand shade.

The Martha Washington geranium does not perform well outdoors, partly because high temperatures inhibit flower bud formation.

Scented-leaved geraniums can be rose, lemon, nutmeg, apple or peppermint scented. Use them as houseplants and along paths where they emit scents when the leaves are brushed or crushed. The “mosquito” is a scented geranium with a citronella grass gene. Its mosquito repelling ability is not proven.

Calendula officinalis, commonly called pot marigold, is the birthday flower for October.This ancient flower may have gotten its name from the belief that it bloomed on calends, the first day of the month

in the ancient Roman calendar. Shakespeare highlighted its popularity in his time by writing about calendula, calling it Mary-buds. In the Victorian language of flowers, calendula means “grief” because the flower may have grown on soil disturbed by war.

As early as the 12th century, fresh and dried calendula petals were used in herbal remedies and grooming products. Cooks have used calendula as a flavoring for soups and stews (possibly the origin of the term “pot” marigold).

October ‘06October ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

Fertilize trees or shrubs before October 15th.

Take leaves home from a walk & do leaf rubbings.

Columbus Day

Weed perennial gardens one last time.

Cut mums back to 4” after they finish blooming.

Let mum leaves collect around the base of the plant.

Average date for peak fall color to begin.

Consider planting ornamental kale & cabbage.

Stop fertilizing lawns after October 15th.

Oct. has more clear days than any other month (9.1).

Clean & store spray equipment.

Cut asparagus stalks after they are killed by frost.

Dig up tender bulbs when the tops die.

Use real grapevines & pinecones as decorations.

Store fertilizers & pesticides in a dark, dry place.

Visit a farm & get a pumpkin to carve.

Plant a windowsill herb garden.

Clean & store spray equipment.

Prune tree branches that touch the house.

Start amaryllis 6 - 8 weeks before giving it.

Remove dead stems & leaves from perennials.

Gently rake leaves out of groundcovers.

Clean & store stakes & tomato cages.

Feed the birds. Halloween

Buy some cider, too.

Pick your own apples at a local orchard.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Remove spent vegetable plants from the garden.

Sow cover crops in vegetable garden vacant areas.

Cut down raspberry canes that have finished producing.

SEPTEMBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Start a compost pile with raked leaves.

Rake leaves when they are dry & lightweight.

NOVEMBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Pests can overwinter in plant debris.

Gray santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) or lavender cotton seems to do about everything except leap tall buildings in a single bound. This aromatic herb is seen in container and knot gardens and as an edging and hedge plant. Because of the way santolina’s foliage reflects light, it is planted in moonlit or white gardens. This plant graces historical gardens, such as one at the Noah Webster House, and spells out “Elizabeth Park” in Hartford.

It is being investigated by historical museums as an old-time integrated pest management measure for their collections. Santolina is still used as an ingredient in modern moth repellents and potpourris. It is drought tolerant, deer resistant and may keep ants outside the house, as well.

November ‘06November ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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First Quarter

If fall was dry, give woody ornamentals a deep watering.

Try blue Hubbard squash for pies.

Put winter protection on roses when the ground freezes.

Cut mums back to 4” after they finish blooming.

Store lawn furniture & statuary that is not weatherproof.

Start paper whites 6 weeks before gift giving.

Veteran’s Day Observed

Plant garlic just before the ground freezes.

Veteran’s Day

Store extra seeds in a cool, dry place.

On average, the first snowfall comes today.

Turn off outdoor faucets.

Winterize mowers. Fencing: the most effective year round rabbit control.

Delay fertilizing most houseplants until spring.

Keep Christmas cacti away from light at night.

Put feeders near vegetative cover for birds.

A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic. A pH above 7 is alkaline. Store long handled tools in an old garbage can.

Thanksgiving Day

Black oil sunflower appeals to many birds.

Buy an evergreen wreath for your front door.

Order the 2007 gardening calendar. (860) 486-3336

Zippered plastic bags keep ice out of shed padlocks.

Petroleum jelly prevents rust on metal garden tools.

Repair bent edges on metal snow shovels.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

Gift ideas: rain gauge, gardening books.

Rub wooden handles with boiled linseed oil.

Buy a snow shovel early in the season.

OCTOBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Mulch late plantings of spring bulbs.

Rake leaves before snow falls to avoid gray snow mold.

DECEMBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3031 31

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This Hibiscus rosa-sinensis hybrid, commonly called Chinese hibiscus, is tropical and are not well suited to Connecticut’s hardiness zones. However, with the right conditions, it will grow well in a greenhouse or a sunny garden room. These plants like bright light and warmth, lots of water, high humidity and rich media.

The blooms will not be as profuse or constant as those seen in Malaysia where hibiscus is the national flower. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis comes in white, yellow, orange, apricot, red and pink or combinations of those colors with double or single flowers and ruffled or fringed petal edges.

Potential pests include aphids, whitefly, spider mites, whitefly, mealybug and scale. Yellowing leaves and bud drop may be a problem, as well.

December ‘06December ‘06 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

First Quarter

Dig the hole for a live tree before the ground freezes.

Start a weather journal with a child.

Put rodent guards around fruit trees.

Antidesiccants help stop moisture loss on rhododendrons.

Consider cutting your own CT-grown Christmas tree.

Cut 1” from the tree so it can absorb water.

Water the Christmas tree with a turkey baster.

Decorate trees with cranberry & popcorn strings.

Finches prefer thistle seed.

Buy a newer variety of poinsettia.

Keep poinsettias at 600.

Most yams are grown outside the country.

Cook with sweet potatoes in place of yams.

CT state flower: mountain laurel

Extended snow cover promotes gray snow mold.

Twelve towns in CT qualified for Tree City USA.

Water when houseplant soil is dry at a 1” depth.

Store firewood outdoors to keep insects at bay.

Soil testing kits make good stocking stuffers.

A brush pile will provide cover for birds.

Gift ideas: bird house/feeder, pruners, colorful wellies

Keep the root ball of live trees moist.

Male goldfinches molt from olive drab to yellow in spring.

Use dilute liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks on poinsettias & amaryllis.

Christmas Day

Live trees should not stay indoors more than 10 days.

New Moon

Full Moon

Last Quarter

CT has about 75,000 white-tailed deer.

A cool, bright spot prolongs holiday cactus bloom.

Take hazardous chemical leftovers to a collection site.

NOVEMBER S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Woodpeckers like suet.

JANUARY 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Combat low humidity by grouping houseplants together.

A complete fertilizer has nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium

Winter Solstice 7:22 PM EST

Credits Design: Susan Schadt, Graphic/Web Designer, University of Connecticut Writing and Editing: Patsy Evans, CIT writer/editor Writing and Editing Assistance: Dawn Pettinelli, Home & Garden Center Director; Robert Durgy, Home & Center Diagnostician Photography: Christine M. Murcott, cover photo January, February, March, May, June, July, August, November: Susan Schadt April, September, October, December: Christine M. Murcott.


2006FEBRUARY 2006

S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

JUNE 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

APRIL 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MARCH 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JULY 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


NOVEMBER 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER 2006 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30


2007

FEBRUARY 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

JUNE 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

APRIL 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MARCH 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JULY 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


NOVEMBER 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER 2007 S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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Communications and Information Technology (CIT), part of the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, produces the Nature’s Close-ups calendar and uses the proceeds to further its mission. CIT works with and for the College in the areas of network solutions, innovative graphic design, editorial support and publication distribution.

The College offers baccalaureate and graduate degrees in various majors and an associate degree program. For example, students can obtain plant science degrees in agronomy, horticulture and landscape architecture.

In these disciplines, as well as others, the College conducts basic and applied research and provides outreach education to benefit Connecticut’s citizens, their environment and their quality of life.

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1. Call (860) 486-3336.2. Fax (860) 486-0100.3. Mail the order to University of Connecticut Communications and Information Technology Publications Resource Center 1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4035 Storrs, CT 06269-4035.4. Go to www.store.uconn.edu and order online.5. Visit the W.B. Young Building, Room 2 on the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus. Business hours are 8 AM to 12 noon and

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Documents

2006 gardening calendar(2)susanschadt.com/documents/2006calendar2.pdf2006 gardening calendar(2) ... August ‘06